St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-05-28
CONCERNING PIoKpoCKErs.
The characteristics OF Members of
the Craft OfDifferent Nations.

the Graft OF DifTerent Nations.
New York Graphic.
In volume recently published in
Paris, the work of Nj. Mace, formerly
chief of the detective police, is chapter
devoted to ''pickpockets." The writer
has evidently large amount of infor-
nation on the subject, for he discusses
in most interesting manner the pecu-
liarities of these chevaliers d'industrie
according to their respective nationali-
ties. He seems to hold the English pick
pockets in great contempt, and says
that the reputation which they enjoy as
expert thieves is entirely undeserving
and that, as general rule, they are
very maladroit and bungiing i'll their
methods. They are, he says, both of
the male and female sex, the lat
ter not being found to any eX-
tent among other nations. They are
their trade anywhere, in the the
alter, in the ballroom, concert halls,
museums, churches, race-cOurses, and
III fact wherever large assemblies are
found, and especially in the crowded
omnibuses, which they know how to
work with great success, and here at
least can empty the pockets of those
who are best guarded against their APP
proach. Several cases are cited to show
how skillfully this branch of trade is
operated and of the devices reSorted to
to put victims off their guard and escape
detection, which would seem to diSprove
the authors assertion that the English
are not up to all the sharp practices of
the profession.
The German pickpocket differs ma
terially in his methods from his English
brother. He is master of what is called
A "a - cie,ts, s,,t l,a.
trick of colliding violently with the vic
tim and profting by the latter's con-
fusion to relieve him of his watch or
pocketbook. He frequents the race
courses and the large shops, and he is
frequently met with in large financial
establishments, where people go to de-
post or draw money, where he watches
for the right person to come along. The
Germans are more Skillful at this
method of pocket picking than any other
nation. The SpaniardS are worthy of
mention, although they appear to have
no marked peculiarities in their meth
DDS, from the fact that they make a sort
of religion of the profession and provide
themselves with chapletS, relics of the
saints, rosarieS, and other sacred arti-
cleS to placate the Holy Virgin for en-
gaging in the illegal business. When
arrested they affect the most shameless
hypocrisy, commencing themselves to
God, to the Virgin, and to all the saints
in Paradise.
According to NJ. Mace, the Italian
pickpocket is the master Of his profess
sion. He knows his skill and is con-
scious of his superiority, and, in word,
is the only one of his stripe that can
laugh at all the police in Europe. I'm
fortunately for him, however. his over
weening confidence in his own adroit-
ness and skill brings him to grief occa-
Sionally; but if the Italian, says this au-
thority, had the prudence of an English
man he would be able to defy all the de-
tectives in the universe. The French
| pickpocketS are cosmopolitan in their
methods, sometimes employing those of
the English and sometimes those of the
German, according to circumstances,
and they are not unskillful in their use
also invented many of their own,
which, 1if the police reports are any
indication, show that the French
are not behind other nations
in originality and ingenuity in
this direction. Nothing is said of Amer
| lean pickpockctS, but there is no doubt
that very interesting chapter might be
devoted to the light-fingered gentry on
this side. Like the French, they are
! cosmopolitan in their use of methods.
and in their ranks may be found not
only men and women, but children as
| well. The latter, as recent experience
| goes to show, are by no means behind
their elders in skill and nimbleneSs. In
fact, one OF the most successful, as well
as one of the boldest pickpockets on
record, was the little girl who was so
recently detected in the crime, and
whose exploits attracted so much public
attention. Judging from some CT the
celebrated cases cited by NJ. Mace,
this one to which we have just alluded
would probably fill the French detective
with unqualified amazement.